I am very excited to announce the release of my newest book, No Peace After War!

There may be no experience more horrific, no personal trial more challenging, than a soldier facing the ravages of war. But for many members of the armed services, returning home after combat is only the beginning of a new, very different set of challenges. Facing isolation, lingering traumas, and unspeakable fears, these brave men and women struggle to find peace long after their physical service is done.

As the wife of an Iraq veteran and a volunteer who has worked with armed service members, author Claire St. Hilaire has heard a number of these heartbreaking, often complex stories face-to-face

In No Peace After War, St. Hilaire shares a collection of short stories and poems that give voice to these dark and difficult realities—exploring haunting memories, society’s treatment of veterans, and the true definition of honor.

No Peace After War is available now on Amazon in Paperback and Kindle format.

Reviewers are free to contact me at claire.m.sthilaire@gmail.com for a complimentary digital copy.

I’ve been doing a lot of editing prior to the release of my next major work, and the process got me thinking about how much our brain relies on patterns in order to function. So much so that if we understand a pattern well enough our brain will fill in missing blanks for us without us being aware. (You may have noticed this when editing your own writing. Sometimes its easier to find errors if you read it backwards so you lose context.)

That made me realize the potential to miss major aspects of the world around us due to the fact our brain is adjusting everything we percieve to fit into patterns we have previously observed.

So, this week my challenge to you is to create something backwards. Or upsidedown. Or sideways. Change up the way you create and see if you can observe something you missed before.

Have fun!

*If you wish to contribute media that is not accepted in the comments section just email it to me at: claire.m.sthilaire@gmail.com and I will include it below.

Today you are invited to give me a writing challenge. The more difficult and creative the better! Simply post your challenge in the comments and I will pick at least one challenge to complete and post to the blog Friday.

This week’s challenge focuses on simplicity. My husband often reminds me that “It’s the simple things in life” that matter most. I realize how right he is everytime I see one of my little nieces or nephews delighting in the discovery of something I have for decades taken for granted.

As artists, we often focus on technique or the portrayal of deep, hidden, and often dark emotions. We seek to express things that need to be expressed. This is not only admirable, but necessary for society to grow. And yet, it is important to remember that many profound ideas and closely held emotions, while perhaps still difficult to express, are very simple.

So this week my challenge for you is to create a piece in whatever medium you wish that portrays something simple and often overlooked with the sense of wonder that a child might experience if discovering it for the first time.

I can’t wait to see what you create!

*If you wish to contribute media that is not accepted in the comments section just email it to me at: claire.m.sthilaire@gmail.com and I will include it below.

Today you are invited to give me a writing challenge. The more difficult and creative the better! Simply post your challenge in the comments and I will pick at least one challenge to complete and post to the blog Friday.

I want to start off with a challenge that focuses on Emotional Intelligence.

According to Preston Ni, M.S.B.A in Psychology Today, emotional intelligence is, “the ability to understand, manage, and effectively express one’s own feelings, as well as engage and navigate successfully with those of others.” While this form of intelligence is important in order to achieve success in any field, artists in particular must have high EI in order to go beyond technical excellence and share ourselves with our audience. Fortunately unlike IQ, EI changes over time and can be developed.

So, for today’s creative challenge, read the following description of a woman and then, using any medium you wish, express her emotional state or tell a story developing her character.

A woman is standing on the street corner holding a sign that reads, “Pregnant. Anything Helps. God Bless.” Her bleached hair is tied back in a messy bun and is in stark contrast with her heavy tan. Her clothes are free of tears and holes though obviously heavily worn. If she is pregnant she is not yet showing. She struggles to make eye contact with the cars as they drive by and hesitates momentarily when offered money from a passerby. Sitting next to her on a dirty backpack is a young man distractedly playing with a dog. He looks up to say a few words to her now and then and she nods or responds briefly, but doesn’t smile.

*If you wish to contribute media that is not accepted in the comments section just email it to me at: claire.m.sthilaire@gmail.com and I will include it below!

Thank you to Ann Reynolds for sending in this original composition in response to the challenge!

Happy Spring! I hope that so far your year has been beautiful and productive!

I have a few things I am very excited to share with you. First, I have been accepted into the University of Alaska Anchorage’s MFA program for fiction writing. I am so excited to have this opportunity to improve my writing and share new stories with you.

With this new challenge ahead of me I have taken a short hiatus from blogging to re-think the format. As a result, I will be changing things up a bit starting next week.

I am so amazed by the amount of talent and artistry in the community and I would love to reflect that in my blog. Basically, I would like to talk with you, not at you.

To that end, I will now have “Creative Mondays” where I will post a prompt or challenge for you (I will endeavor to make these challenges applicable to multiple artistic mediums).

I will also have “Challenge Wednesdays” where you can give me a writing challenge. I will pick one challenge from the comments and post my result Friday for you to judge.

I will still be posting Artist Spotlights when I have the opportunity to meet with and interview local artists.

I hope you will join the fun and continue to share your creativity and inspiration!